Washington 25¢, 1964-D, Retained Wire, 25¢, MS64 , NGC

25¢, 1964-D, MS64, Retained Wire, NGC.

Strike-through errors are fairly common, occurring when a piece of foreign debris is introduced between the dies and the planchet during the striking process. This obstruction prevents metal from fully flowing into the affected area, leaving an impression of the material on the finished coin.

While most strike-throughs result only in an impression of the foreign material, examples that retain the object itself are significantly scarcer and far more desirable to collectors. In this case, the piece has been attributed as a retained wire; however, based on its shape and structure, we believe the object is more consistent with a staple, making for an especially intriguing and visually distinctive error.